Cheques for youth-owned businesses
The Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) had identified 5 600 young people.
“We urge parents to refrain from accepting payments from old men who sexually molest young girls. Those who do such abominable acts to young girls need to be reported to the police.”
These are the words of KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, when he was announcing several programmes aimed at alleviating rampant youth unemployment in the province.
Duma, who is originally from Umzumbe, was speaking virtually from the Ndwedwe Regional Sport Ground on Youth Day, June 16.
Duma said during this financial year, the Education Department created 58 000 jobs which benefitted the youth and the Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) had identified 5 600 young people, who would receive monthly stipends to curb youth unemployment and economically empower the youth of the province.
“EDTEA added 15 000 jobs through the department’s expanded work programmes, The Office of the Premier, through its R100 million Youth Empowerment Fund, had assisted more than 70 young people to start their own businesses or expand their existing enterprises. We encourage youth from the province to grab these opportunities aimed at empowering them so that they are not left behind,” he said.
He added that Operation Vula Fund is one of the public-sector-led funds aimed at supporting small businesses to create more than 10 000 job and business opportunities. Applications for assistance through Operation Vula Fund closed on June 20.
“It is through small business development and developing young entrepreneurs that we can address youth unemployment in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.
As part of the Youth Day commemoration, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government also awarded cheques worth over R600 000 to businesses owned by young people and cooperatives in and around KwaZulu-Natal.
June 16 is the 47th anniversary of the uprising of young people in Soweto and other townships in South Africa.
Duma reminded young people to take courage and be inspired by the sacrifices made by the class of 1976.
In closing, MEC Duma lamented the high number of teenage pregnancies prevalent in the province and called on communities to report ‘sugar daddies’ who prey on teenage girls.
“We urge parents to refrain from accepting payments from old men who sexually molest young girls. Those who do such abominable acts to young girls need to be reported to the police,” said Duma.
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